A weekly summary of news from the syndicated newspaper/web column, The Canadian Report, by Jim Fox.

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Monday, March 14, 2016

Canada-U.S. friendship revived under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canada column for Sunday, March 13/16

THE CANADIAN REPORT

(c) By Jim Fox

Wasn’t that a
party, eh?

The first families of
Canada and the United States appeared to be best friends forever as Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau was honored at a state dinner in Washington.

While the best of
neighbors, the relationship between the countries is again warming with Liberal
Trudeau’s election in October.

It was the first official
visit for a Canadian prime minister in 19 years, the last being when Jean and
Aline Chretien were the guests of Bill and Hillary Clinton.

“We have a common
outlook on the world,” Obama said of Trudeau, who in turn called him “a deep
thinker with a big heart but also a big brain.”

The first ladies
hit it off, too, with Michelle Obama introducing Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau as her
“soulmate.”

As well as the
glitzy dinner with numerous Canadian-born celebrities and high-powered political
and business leaders, Trudeau got down to business during his three-day visit.

They agreed on Obama’s desire to advance
initiatives to reduce greenhouse gases and finding new sources of non-carbon
based energy that aligns with Canada’s foreign policy.

The two countries will
also implement added border security measures including pre-clearance for
low-risk travelers and sharing information on people entering and leaving each
country.

---

Concerns over the
impact of the Zika virus on pregnant women combined with the lower-valued
Canadian dollar to affect the fortunes of tour operator Transat AT.

The Montreal-based
company has absorbed $150 million in added costs that put “a lot of pressure on
our winter profitability,” said Denis Petrin, chief financial officer.

Along with fewer
travelers due to the health threats of the mosquito-borne virus, there has been
drop in demand for sun destinations from Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

---

News in brief:

- Canada’s jobless
rate rose to 7.3 percent last month, up 0.1 percent for the third consecutive
month, Statistics Canada said. There was a net job loss of 2,300 even with 49,500
more part-time positions. Alberta’s rate jumped to 7.9 percent from 7.4 percent;
Saskatchewan’s was 5.9 percent, up 0.3 percent; and New Brunswick climbed to
9.9 percent, up from 9.3 percent.

- Five companies were
fined $643,500 in total for violating telemarketing rules. The Canadian
Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said The Future Web Ltd.,
8166200 Canada Inc. and NextGen Webstore Ltd., all from Canada, and two companies
based in India had called Canadians registered on the national do not call
list.

---

Facts and figures:

Canada’s dollar is
higher at 75.54 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.323 in Canadian funds,
before bank exchange fees.

The Bank of Canada’s
key interest rate is steady at 0.5 percent while the prime-lending rate is 2.7
percent.

Markets are higher,
with the Toronto Stock Exchange index at 13,511 points and the TSX Venture
index 576 points.

The average national
price for gas has risen to 92.9 cents a liter or $3.53 (Canadian) for a U.S.
gallon.

- Slumping oil
prices have led to further layoffs of about 500 workers at Calgary-based Husky Energy Inc. where 1,400 jobs were cut last
fall. It’s estimated that 40,000 oil and gas jobs have been lost in the past 18
months in Alberta, including 1,700 at Suncor Energy Inc. and 700 at Cenovus
Energy Inc.

- A powerful storm
with wind gusts up to 55 mph cut power to about 110,000 customers on the
British Columbia Lower Mainland, including Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley
and the Sunshine Coast. The storm on Thursday morning took down power lines,
trees and led to closed schools and the canceling of sailings by BC Ferries.

- Two homeless men
were welcomed with housing and food in Vancouver after it was learned they had
been given one-way bus tickets to leave a Saskatchewan shelter. Charles
Neil-Curley, 23, and Jeremy Roy, 21, said they received the tickets from the
Lighthouse shelter in North Battleford. The Saskatchewan government is investigating
the situation.